Structural element



Oct. 7, 1941. A. M. HULL STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed July s, 1939 '3 sheets-sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ALVA M HULL BY V7 and. l"

ATTORNEYS 5 mw F Oct. 7, 1941. A. M. HULL STRUCTURAL ELEMENT Filed July 3, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 www l NV EN TOR.

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ALVA M.HULL BY I r ATIURNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1941 STRUCTURAL ELEMENT i Alva M. Hull, Detroit, Mich., assigner of one-iifth to Francis D. Hardesty, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 3, 1939, Serial No. 282,596

(Cl. 18S-86) 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to building construction and particularly to sheet metal elements for replacing boards or planks. Among the objects of the invention is a sheet metal element which is adaptable for use primarily for "siding but which, with minor modifications, may be made suitable for roofing or for other uses.

Another object is an element of the kind indicated which is easily and quickly applied and which provides a tight seal between the edges of adjacent elements.

Still another object is an edge formation of such elements whereby the mating edges interlock easily and positively to produce a tight joint.

Other objects and advantages will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a representation in perspective of a portion 'of a building indicating the use of the elements as siding.

Figure 2 is an enlarged reproduction of a portion of Figure 1 with parts in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the lower element of Figure 2, its method of attachment and the method of attaching the next piece of siding.

Figure 4 is an exploded sectional view of the siding.

Figure 5 is a portion of the anchoring strip for the lowest element.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing cornice construction.

Figure 7 is an enlargement of a portion of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a further enlargement of a portion of a modified form of cornice.

Figures 9 and 10 show portions of two of the elements used in the cornice.

Figures 11 is a sectional View of the element as modified for roof construction, and

Figure 12 is a sectional view of a ridge pole.

In the construction of buildings, particularly dwellings, it is customary to use boards of uniform width for a number of purposes, such as siding for the outer walls, cornice construction, and the like. Such boards are usually provided with finished edges so as to interfit to make tight or sealed joints. Wood construction is, however, open to the objections, among others, that it is combustible, is not vermin excluding, is itself subject to attack by vermin, and seldom, if ever, free from shrinkage.

Various forms of steel framing construction have been proposed and used but usually with wood coverings and finish or stucco, brick veneer or the like.

The present invention is intended to overcome the stated objections and produce a structure having the appearance of wood but the permanence of steel.

Referring to the drawings and to Figure 1 thereof, these show a corner portion of a building including a window opening and in appearance closely resembles an ordinary wood building with Wood siding, in that there is shown a brick covered foundation having vertically arranged studding 2| to which is secured a layer of heat insulating sheathing 22, and, over the latter, overlapping siding 23. The window opening is provided with framing and sill 26.

Since the preferred use of the present invention, to obtain all of its advantages, involves the use of steel framing, the studding 2| is indicated as being so constructed of steel or other metal as to enable the use of nails ln securing the attached parts in place.

Figure 2 shows more in detail the construction of a suitable stud 2l as well as the form of siding element, and also shows clearly the method of applying the latter.

In this figure the stud 2| is shown to be formed of two channel members fixed back to back but spaced by means of the depressed portions 2|a so as to permit entrance of nails, the spacing being somewhat less than the diameter of a nail. Other forms' of metal studding or even wood studding could of course be used.

The siding 23, as clearly shown in this figure, and in Figures 3 and 4, consists of a strip of metal, preferably steel, of suitable width having one edge turned outwardly as at 23a with the outer portion of the thus formed flange turned down as at 23h to form an angular pocket 30 opening downwardly. The other edge of the strip 23 is bent backward as at 23e and the flange so formed bent inwardly three times as at 23d, 23e and 23h to form an angular spring tongue 3| having such dimensions as to fit the pocket 30.

As shown best in Figure 4, a narrow portion of the strip adjacent the pocket is bent upward at a small angle so that a narrow area is in the plane of the innermost portion of tongue 3|. Also, the portion 23d is curved as shown so as to clear the heads of the nails 32 used to secure the element in place. Further, instead of being rectangular, the pocket 30 and the tongue 3| are arranged at an angle to the adjacent surface.

The watertable is shown as forming an integral part of the shield member 4| and the latter so formed that its outer area will be vertical when in position. This involves the formation of the watertable portion with an upper fiat surface 40a with the pocket carrying ilange projecting upwardly therefrom.

With the pocket 30 and tongue 3| properly proportioned and set at a small angle as shown, the latter may be forced under the edge of the pocket and the resilience of both pocket and tongue will lock them tightly together.

The lower edge of member 4I may be anchored, as shown, by means or a. narrow strip 45 iixed at the lower edge of sheathing 22 and provided with a pocket 30.

In Figures 6 to 10, ceiling elements 50 are shown and their application to cornice construction illustrated. In Figures 6 and 7 these elements are shown as applied to metal frame construction and as being secured in place 'by bolts These ceiling elements have a form quite similar to member 4|, except for the watertable, in that the edge provided with a pocket 36 has a straight Wall ila adjacent the pocket 30. The

angular arrangement of pocket and tongue permits their being locked together as in the case of element 4i.

In the vcornice construction shown, the outermost element 50 is secured in the pocket 30 of a narrow strip 50a which is bolted to the support 53 and also serves as an abutment against which is clamped an apron 52, a clamping strip 55 being used for this purpose.

The strip 55 also serves to hold in place the finish molding 56, the lower edge of which may be seated in a groove 52a formed in apron 52.

Figure 8 shows the elements 50 held to a wooden support 53a by means of nails.

Figure 1l illustrates the present invention as applied to roofing. In this figure the element 60 may be identical with the siding element 23, but it is preferred to form its outer surface with suitable markings 6l to resemble shingles, tiles, or other conventional roofing elements. At 62 is indicated the usual wooden backing.

Figure l2 illustrates the preferred form of ridge construction when using the form of roofing indicated in Figure l1. In this figure the elements 6D, secured to the sheathing 62 stop a short distance from the apex and in the pockets 30 are iixed the strips 65, these having their outer edges so formed as to produce a hook 56 into which is hooked the short inturned flanges 61 of the resilient channel ridge member 66. By properly proportioning the strips 65 and ridge member 68, the resilience of the latter will hold itself and the strips 65 firmly in place and seal the upper edges ofthe roong elements.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that, in constructing a building, using the described elements, the sheathing insulation 22 is rst applied and then the corner piece lll put in place. This may be, as shown, an angular member having short outwardly arranged flanges I'Illa servingV as nailing portions for the member and as flashing for the siding 23.

Similarly straight pieces 1l may be used for the window framing but these should have one edge turned under as at lla to cooperate with an angular piece 12 which extends around from the outer wall surface to the inner face of the window frame and under the metal channel members 13. The sill 26 is preferably also of metal and m-ay be simply of box-like formation.

In applying the siding 23 after the corners "I0 and frames 1| and associated elements have been placed, the siding elements are cut to t and require no fastening except at their ends though intermediate fastening means may be used.

It is preferred, however, to solder, braze, weld or otherwise make the joints at 80 and corresponding locations, completely sealed to prevent entrance of water.

I claim: f

1. A structural element for use in the outer covering of a building, said element consisting of an elongated strip of sheet metal having one of its longitudinal edge portions extending sharply outwardly and then sharply downwardly to form an angular downwardly open longitudinal recess at the front of the element, the other longitudinal edge portion of the strip extending rearwardly horizontally then upwardly angularly and finally downward toward the body of the strip to form a tongue of such shape and size as to lit the recess of a similar adjacent element, said tongue being of concave shape at the rear thereof.

2. A structural element for building purposes consisting of an elongated strip of sheet metal comprising a body portion and first and second longitudinal edge portions, the rst edge portion consisting of a forwardly and upwardly extending flange terminating in a downwardly extending rst terminal spaced from the body portion to provide a downwardly open longitudinal recess, the second edge portion comprising a substantially horizontal part extending rearwardly from the body portion, the second edge portion having an upwardly extending part projecting from its substantially horizontal part and terminating in an upwardly and outwardly extending iiange merging in a downwardly extending terminal, a portion of the last-mentioned terminal being spaced from .the body portion to form a pocket adapted to receive a rst terminal of a similar element.

3. A structural element for building purposes consisting of an elongated strip of sheet metal comprising a body portion and iirst and second longitudinal edge portions, the first edge portion consisting of a forwardly and upwardly extending flange terminating in a downwardly extending first terminal spaced from the body portion to provide a downwardly open longitudinal recess, the second edge portion comprising a substantially horizontal part extending rearwardly from the body portion, the second edge portion having an upwardly extending part projecting from its substantially horizontal part and terminating in an upwardly and outwardly extending ange merging in a downwardly extending terminal, a portion of the last-mentioned terminal being spaced from the body portion to form a pocket adapted to receive a first terminal of a similar element, the upwardly and outwardly extending iiange of the second edge portion being of concave shape with the concavity extending toward the body portion.

4. A structural element for use in the outer covering of a building, said element consisting of an elongated strip of sheet metal having one of its longitudinal edge portions extending sharply outwardly and then sharply downwardly to form an angular downwardly open longitudinal recess at the front of the element, the other longitudinal edge portion of the strip extending rearwardly horizontally then upwardly angularly and finally downward toward the body of the strip to form a tongue of such shape and size as to fit the recess of a similar adjacent element, said strip having a substantially horizontal shelf portion spaced from its upper end a distance substantially equal to the height of said tongue to form a seat for the rearwardly extending horizontal portion of a similar adjacent element.

ALvA M. HULL. 

